Hey Dins

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Oregon opens up as a 15 pt favorite against MSU. Seems a bit steep. Then again, stupidity didn't build all those fancy buildings in Vegas.

I think Oregon wins a close game, but I'll take 15 all day, every day. Hopefully the line doesn't drop.

[Dinsdale]

Seems like a mighty large spread against the reigning Rose Bowl champs, indeed.

It ain't South Dakota State we're talking about.

But Vegas/books really seems to be loving O right now. They have them at 7/1 to win it all (Bama and FSU are ahead, both at 11/2, Oklahoma is next at 9/1)

Don't think I'd touch -15 with a ten foot pole, unless Sparty gets blown out by Eastern Northwest State Community College in Week 1.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Eastern Northwest State Community College in Week 1.

Close. Jacksonville State. But since they recruit in the south, expect 3.9 speed at every position.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

It's just a tune up for a top 5 Oregon team in Autzen the following week. You guys use Troy to tune up for La-Monroe.

[Goober McTuber]

It's just a tune up for a top 5 Oregon team in Autzen the following week. You guys use Troy to tune up for La-Monroe.

Actually, Auburn starts against Arkansas.

Good move. Troy would have been a tougher test.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Spread down to 11.

They're calling for a high of 93 degrees in Eugene on Saturday. Sweet jaysus.

[Dinsdale]

Those weather forecasts change every few hours this time of year. Could be 100, could be 85. And weather.com says 98, BTW. Should be a dry heat, though (I hope so, not anything to do with the game, just personal comfort). Might even get some haze from wildfires by then (our California boys should be used to it).


How much did Sparty pay Colt Lyerla to toss Oregon under the bus and make distractions days before the game?

Dude is a straight fuckup, and his story doesn't make sense.

[Dinsdale]

Just noticed that in the Pick'Em, some people picked MSU (not unreasonable with that spread), but had a score well into the 60's?

I don't think they really thought that one through.

[Dinsdale]

And Magoo -- In case you were breathing a sigh of relief over De'Anthony Thomas moving on to Sundays (his first touch in the NFL went for 6, BTW)...

We found a better one. Charles Nelson, aka WhoDAT?... first NCAA touch went for... 6.

Didn't think it was possible to get faster. O did.

And don't worry about that receiver who ran the 2nd fastest 110 hurdles in NCAA history... he won't be a problem.

[Dinsdale]

Uhm, he's not at Oregon. He was with the Green Bay Packers, until some scrub cheap-shotted his knee. After Oregon kicked him out for being a monumental fuckup.

But yes, he was a 5-star from Hillsboro (that USC wooed bigtime... doesn't that break one of your rules, along with kicking your own ass?)

BTW -- My good buddy's good buddy (who I'm slightly acquainted with) from Beaverton HS is one of the best O-linemen in USC history. I guess USC can't recruit enough in-state talent to fill a roster.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Just noticed that in the Pick'Em, some people picked MSU (not unreasonable with that spread), but had a score well into the 60's?

I don't think they really thought that one through.

I don't quite see this game being a PAC 12 style shootout, but I could see both teams scoring in the low to mid 30s. Seems reasonable.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

And Magoo -- In case you were breathing a sigh of relief over De'Anthony Thomas moving on to Sundays (his first touch in the NFL went for 6, BTW)...

We found a better one. Charles Nelson, aka WhoDAT?... first NCAA touch went for... 6.

Didn't think it was possible to get faster. O did.

And don't worry about that receiver who ran the 2nd fastest 110 hurdles in NCAA history... he won't be a problem.

Yeah, yeah, I get it. Nobody has speed like Oregon speeeeeeeeed.

And the way you counter speed is with physical, assignment football.

Everybody's got a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.

[Dinsdale]

And the way you counter speed is with physical, assignment football.

Everybody's got a game plan until they get punched in the mouth.

No one does it better than Sparty these days.

And the best response to mouth-punchers is to score early and often... which is going to happen.

Is it Saturday yet?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Early and often? Doubt it. But hey, stranger things have happened. Things can definitely snowball at Autzen but this MSU team doesn't rattle easily or beat themselves.

Oregon won't have an easy time running the ball due to MSU's defensive scheme. They put their safeties in the box who basically act as swarming linebackers if it's a run play. The corners play man to man press coverage, so there will be big play potential for Mariota in the passing game if he can make accurate throws deep. But I'm more worried about the damage he can do with his legs on broken plays. That's how a guy like Braxton Miller was most effective. The designed stuff, not so much.

[Dinsdale]

The local radio guys (both played CFB, one NFL) really got into breaking down the Sparty D thoroughly. They were quite fascinated by it, and found it innovative and unique. Same set every down, and the linebackers never shift. Seemed to think it was the advent of the "uptempo defense."

Like Alioti (analyst now, and still a funny dude), they scoffed at the comparisons to Stanford's defense, noting besides physicality up front, they had nothing in common (I agree -- Furd's D runs around like chickens with their heads cut off to hide the look, and LB's are screaming their heads off).

Makes for a very interesting matchup -- unstoppable force on offense vs. immovable object on defense.

Our analysts also mentioned that Sparty will let you move the ball between the 20's all day long -- and then some weird pressure will come out of nowhere and squash your scoring dreams.

I'm also a bit worried about stopping the Sparty run, but there's some good players up front, and I don't think last week was a good indicator (for either team), since they weren't going to show much of their hand against a Week 1 cupcake. Although Oregon did tip their hand a bit on offense, showing some new sets. Similar to what they did with DAT, but a bit different.

Is it Saturday yet?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Like Alioti (analyst now, and still a funny dude), they scoffed at the comparisons to Stanford's defense, noting besides physicality up front, they had nothing in common (I agree -- Furd's D runs around like chickens with their heads cut off to hide the look, and LB's are screaming their heads off).

I heard someone describe MSU and Stanford as, "Different models, but come out of the same auto factory."

Different schemes but similar philosophies and both very effective. My only knock on Stanford was I was not real impressed with their secondary.

Our analysts also mentioned that Sparty will let you move the ball between the 20's all day long -- and then some weird pressure will come out of nowhere and squash your scoring dreams.

Eh, not exactly. The red zone D can buckle down, sure, but MSU is pretty unrelenting and wants to force 3-and-outs 'til the clock hits zero. Watch highlights of the game last year against Michigan where they came after and abused Devon Gardner all game long. At one point near the end of the game on third down, Gardner had a clear path with his legs to pick up the first, but intentionally slid short of the sticks because he didn't want to take another hit from a DB that was gunning for him. Then he hobbled off the field shortly after.

But Mariota isn't Gardner and Oregon isn't Michigan. And MSU is still breaking in six new starters. Oregon will move the ball, the question is how many drives will they finish with 7 instead of 3?

Because MSU is constantly attacking, they're more susceptible to giving up the big play than they are to letting teams methodically move the ball on them between the 20s. And Oregon is pretty good at hitting those big plays. Look for big scrambles from Mariota if MSU can't keep him contained, and for big chunk plays in the passing game against 1-on-1 coverage.

I'm also a bit worried about stopping the Sparty run, but there's some good players up front, and I don't think last week was a good indicator (for either team), since they weren't going to show much of their hand against a Week 1 cupcake. Although Oregon did tip their hand a bit on offense, showing some new sets. Similar to what they did with DAT, but a bit different.

Don't worry about MSU running it down your throats Stanford-style for four quarters. They don't have the OL to do that. If the holes are there, sure, they'll pound it, but I would expect more of a 50-50 run-pass attack. Langford typically starts out slow then rips off his biggest runs late in the game when the opposing D is gassed. MSU led the country last year in time of possession in large part due to their defense and a passing game that can move the chains. The running game has been more of a complement that can get the short yards when necessary, but won't put up gaudy numbers.

Also, MSU typically struggles to run against the 3-4.

Connor Cook needs to have a big day passing the ball.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

That's pussy ball. Hit him hard early and often, but hit him legally. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt.

[Dinsdale]

Read the Lyera kids story, apparently he grew up white trash in oregon with a single mom and associated with a bunch of bad people. He wanted to leave Oregon for college and was ready to commit to USC until an Oregon booster started promising him a house, car, paying his mom... so he opted to stay in Oregon and then the booster never paid him or came through with any of the things, naturally the kid is going to be bitter if the only reason he chose to go to a school turned out to be a lie.

The part you left out is that Lyerla is a compulsive liar... there is that.

Yeah, a nameless "booster" promised his mom a house and a car in the midst of the Lyles investigation (in which Oregon knew they were getting sanctioned), but didn't deliver... so many holes in that story it's borderline-funny. Won't name the guy. Received nothing (which wouldn't really help the "booster" in any future shady deals, no?). No documentation. No evidence whatsoever.

Then again, this is the same guy who claimed his arrest for cocaine shortly after getting the boot was his "first or second time" doing it. First... yeahhhhhhhh, right. Second... don't know how many people here have ever done coke, but I remember my first time quite well (even after 30 years). I'm guessing most people who have partaken at some point have similar vivid memories.

And it's odd the name USC never came up until now.

Dude is a straight up liar, with some serious loose screws.

[Dinsdale]

The back up transferred to SDSU to be with his GF

Uhhhh....

No.

Lockie was the backup last year, same as this year. Rodriguez was #3, which isn't a difficult position to replace.

[Dinsdale]

That's pussy ball.

Look who posted it.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

the last time a big 10 team won a title was because ohio state knee capped Willis Mcgahee

[Dinsdale]

In Toejam's defense -- he's the least conference BSH on this board.

Don't get me wrong, he's the dumbest person here... just the least BSH.

Let's call a spade a spade.